Oh, the usual disclaimer - Bleach is Tite Kubo's
Chapter 7: To Glare and Be Glared Right Back
The benevolent Ukitake Juushirou sat calmly sipping tea while occasionally peering at the two captains in front of him.
It's like in the middle of the war again.
Only this time, Ukitake couldn't quite put a finger on it – why are the two gentlemen emitting such hostile reiatsu?
Oddly, he seemed to enjoy this drama unfolding before him. These are peaceful times, conducive to a convalescents; but Kami, he yearned for some excitement - rare as they come nowadays.
All of the sudden, the white-haired captain turned crimson due to a rising coughing fit; but he doesn't want to ruin the moment so he chose to dispel the itchy sensation in his throat by quaffing his tea down forcibly; causing his black-haired guest to raise an eyebrow.
"Uh…Ukitake-taichou," Renji broke the silence, leaning with concern. "Are you alright?"
"Daijoubu…Renji-san," Ukitake sparkled. "Perfectly peachy. No cause for alarm." Then lifting the pot, he inquired all-too happily. "More tea?"
"A-arigatou, taichou." Renji slightly stammered. Then an idea struck him, his face brightened and the red color that grazed his cheeks lightened slightly. "Should I get Rukia for you, Ukitake-san?"
"No need for that Renji-san…unless you wish to see Rukia-chan yourself?" Ukitake cheerily insinuated to the red-haired; ignoring the frown of the other whose eyes did not stray from his teacup.
"Aah-ha, HAI! Taichou!!" Renji's bark went up several decibels, barely containing his excitement.
He bowed low to both captains and stood, grateful for the excuse. What reason does that prick have here anyway?
As Renji slid the shouji close, he wondered if his former captain is planning something on his sleeve.
No matter, Renji thought. As he approached the exercises, he can see Rukia's back; her form from this distance, seem intently focused on her task. Ah, there you are.
**********
Ukitake Juushirou sparkled at the remaining company, who clearly took his time relishing the tea his host had graciously offered.
"Sweets go well with that Byakuya-san," the white-haired captain pushed a box full of small cakes towards his bishounen guest.
Byakuya politely shook his head twice, causing the other to increase his sparkle. The latter always have a penchant for anything infantile and right now, he finds Byakuya's refusal endearingly childlike in all its seriousness. After all, the gap in their ages is probably around millennia.
The former wanted to roll his eyes like he did with a certain demon-cat when he was younger; but naturally refrained in doing so. On to business, he thought. He is not comfortable that his former-buffoon-of-a-lieutenant is outside, pursuing his future (secretly beloved petite shinigami).
"Ahh, then Byakuya-san. May I boldly assume that you come here to finally allow Rukia into lieutenancy?" Ukitake asked, beaming at him.
"Correct, Ukitake-taichiou. I have come to realize and acknowledge the scope her spiritual capabilities has reached; notwithstanding the accomplishments she has attained are far more than sufficient that served as pre-requisites for this position." Then he added, swirling his tea nonchalantly, "Besides, her kidou is beyond impressive…for her caliber. Truly befitting a Kuchiki."
"Oh I am very sure she is," Juushirou readily agrees, being an aristocrat himself, he understands what his guest is talking about. "But Byakuya-san, indulge me," he proceeded cautiously, but a smile never left his expression. "May I ask, why this sudden change of…paradigm? I still could not forget the glare you gave me several days ago."
"It is as such, Ukitake-taichou," he replied in his deep baritone. "I always abide by the principles and whatever my pride dictate me." Byakuya then set his teacup down gracefully and looked at his host in the eye.
"Very well, Byakuya-san, I am very happy and fortunate that you have finally acquiesced to my entreaty in having Rukia as my lieutenant." Ukitake eyes crinkled with excitement. "I now have your blessing to present this to Yamamoto-sou-taichou, ne?"
"Ukitake. Senpai." Byakuya reverted to a more respectful, yet colder tone this time; his gray eyes sharp and willful. "When did I say that Rukia will be your lieutenant?"
The preamble and tone startled Ukitake into earnestness. He looked at Byakuya, clearly perplexed.
Slightly leaning towards his host - seemingly appear to whisper, Byakuya declared with dead finality.
"She is to be...my...lieutenant, Ukitake-taichou," he said softly, putting an end to their conversation.
This is why the benevolent Ukitake Juushirou nearly dropped the teacup he is holding and wondered if there is more to what he just heard. He could only stare, dumbstruck at Kuchiki Byakuya who now reverted to calmly sipping his own tea.
**********
Several minutes flew between the two friends who are sitting under the tree, observing the oncoming dusk.
One can see that Renji's eyes had red eyes that nearly matched his hair; while the other carries an equally downcast expression (with a complimentary stuffed nose from crying).
Damn, she truly does not want to hurt her bestfriend. But what can she do? It would be hard to will oneself into love. She will always love this baboon beside her, but only to such extent.
Even if Renji would decide to hate her, she could never bring herself to feel the same or despise him. He will forever always be her…Renji.
Rukia looked at her hands and peered at the hands of her companion beside her. She remembered how blue they were when she accidentally lashed a whole new level of reiatsu not too long ago. When was that? She couldn't recall anymore given their current circumstance.
Slowly, she took Renji's hand, hoping for forgiveness; but could not find the voice to do so. That startled the other, but he did not pull his hand away; curious about what Rukia will do.
She merely held his hand; seemingly studying the lines and feeling the calluses underneath. Then she returned the hand to his lap and gazed upwards, smiling at him with eyes sheen with new tears.
Renji smiled back forlornly. He was about to say something, then decidedly changed his mind to test the ground by stealing a soft kiss from the little shinigami, cupping her head in case she averts.
As he lifted his head to gauge her (shocked) reaction, he froze when he heard a metallic clink behind them. Renji paled; it is a sound he knows all too well.
"Chire."
A deep voice heavily laced with fury (jealousy, if only they know) ensues with a question - what have you done to her Abarai?
Both the shikai command and her brother's voice are all just what Rukia need to shake herself out of her paralysis.
"NII-SAMA! NO!" Rukia ran to the wielder, her hand reaching out to him.
Byakuya is too pre-occupied to see Rukia's one bare hand grasp the blade in time to negate the full release. Only when his hearing registered Rukia's soft cry of pain did he see what she had done.
The blade had sliced deeply through the flesh of her palm; her other hand on his shoulder - a silent plea to stop. Her eyes are the saddest ones he ever saw – even sadder than Hisana's.
Horrified, Byakuya gave a muted gasp and dropped Senbonzakura. He immediately took Rukia's hands and chanted a healing kidou; his fury (and jealousy) wholly forgotten.
Renji and Juushirou (who immediately shunpo-ed to this little tableau upon sensing the change in the nobleman's reiatsu) are equally horror-struck and subsequently taken aback as both see Byakuya's face openly registers one emotion all of Soul Society is unaccustomed to see: tenderness.
**********
Rukia glared at the number 'six' emblem, hoping that her gaze would burn a hole through his haori. She may have indeed gotten her wish to be walked home by Byakuya, but not this way. She imagined a romantic sort of walk – scenic, relaxing, quiet yet stimulating.
But certainly not like this.
She is walking behind Byakuya, who is clearly keeping his fearsome reiatsu under control.
What was he so mad about? Is this about the kiss?
Renji certainly did nothing (except his untimely confession). She merely cried because Renji…well, Renji's eyes strained red.
She just loathed herself at the moment - a paradox even she herself could not quite understand. However, Rukia is certain of one thing - she couldn't stand hurting Renji's feelings and she wanted to die back then. But she just couldn't bring herself to reciprocate what he was offering.
When Byakuya appeared, no scathing words were exchanged after his near-shikai release, but Rukia could not fathom the intensity of his glare to her bestfriend. Similarly she could not also understand why her bestfriend had the temerity to glare and talk back with the slightest hint of rudeness. Therefore, she wanted to grab their heads with each of her hands and bash them together while screaming 'Where are your manners?' (to Renji) and 'You are overreacting Nii-sama!'
She certainly wished she had.
Instead, she found herself trying to process what was going on between the two powerful captains. In fact, she can barely recall what Renji's reply was (Kuchiki-taichou, Rukia an' I were only talkin'), let alone remember Byakuya's equally sarcastic counter-response.
Only when Byakuya called her name did she managed to re-animate herself.
"We need to talk Rukia." Then turning to Ukitake - "You must excuse us, Ukitake-taichou," Byakuya said after a slight nod. "Abarai," he added grudgingly and subsequently raising an elegant brow at the redhead. He didn't even bother to add an honorific.
The redhead could only glower back at his former captain. His concern for Rukia is what truly holds him back from releasing Zabimaru and have another round much like in the past, way back during her execution.
The little shinigami sighed indistinctly among them. How did it come to this?
As if being winded-up, Rukia mechanically followed her brother. And judging from the direction they have taken, it seems that both of them are going home.
**********
Silence descended as dusk deepened around the estate.
Still garbed in their shinigami uniform, both proceeded to the tea room at the west wing.
Rukia swallowed nervously, afraid to ask Nii-sama what this is all about and instead, poured him tea.
On the other side, Byakuya merely watched her pour tea, his eyes carefully studying the small slim hand that had boldly gripped the sharp edge of his katana; thinking how readily she protected Renji from his ire.
Thinking how easily she defied him, when her better judgment beckons.
He closed his eyes, trying to suppress his resentment from rising and ruining this moment.
**********
A steam rose in the air. Rukia feels déjà vu seeping through her fingers, recalling a similar montage with Renji.
Byakuya then reached for the teacup and raised it to his lips, inhaling the wonderful scent. As he did, his sharp olfactory sense also detected a hint of musky lavender he knows that belong to the little shinigami right in front of him. He closed his eyes once again, savoring both smells; trying not to betray his shifted excitement on having Rukia to himself alone through his eyes.
Rukia, on the hand, sat openly mesmerized at every polished movement by his hands. One would find it hard to believe those smooth unlined hands hold one of the deadly Zanpakutou in the land.
"Rukia," eyes opened and bore themselves into her.
Blue-violet orbs boldly met slate gray eyes.
Rukia felt her heart stop at that.
"I have informed Ukitake-taichou of my intentions. He has no choice on this matter; as…this somewhat concerns the clan," Byakuya added the last bit with emphasis.
Rukia felt the hairs of her back stand.
"As I was the lieutenant during my grandfather's time; so shall you be," he said, with the same deadly finality in his tone back at the 13th division. He saw Rukia gave a little start.
"Yes, Rukia. Two days from now, you shall be the new sixth division lieutenant."
Rukia doesn't know what to feel. She wanted to break into tiny different pieces – from astonishment, joy, apprehension; she truly cannot decide which emotion is currently more intense.
"Nii-sama," she forced her voice to carry a little conviction. This is their craft…their duty as death gods; and as a Kuchiki, she should live up to the noble name like she was drilled to.
"I will not fail you. You have my support, as always," she said firmly, gathering all the air and pride she could muster.
Then sliding backwards using her zabuton and ignoring the strain on her legs from the tension, she bowed low. Her forehead touched the floor as custom dictates.
"Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, Nii-sama" she said softly, not seeing the shine in her brother's eyes.
Author's Notes :
• My first love is RenRuki, but found true love with ByaRuki. Don't worry Renji, you shall have your own fanfic...soon.
• I apologize for any grammar/spelling errors and words used repetitively. It's really hard not having a beta reader and I am still shy to ask around.
• My usual deep thanks to those who left a review (especially for chapters 5-6) and added this fic to their alerts. Hope this didn't disappoint you (but if it did, please let me know…ü)
